ICEBREAKERS and ENERGIZERSICEBREAKERS and ENERGIZERS

Idea’s to break the ice Idea’s to break the ice at meetings, seminars, teaching activitiesat meetings, seminars, teaching activities

Handbook for volunteersHandbook for volunteersApril 2007April 2007

Thai Child Development Foundation

Creative Learning Center

Thai Child Development FoundationAddressPO Box 7 Phato Post OfficeAmphur PhatoChangwat Chumpon, 86180 Thailand 

Web site: www.thaichilddevelopment.orgE-mail: info@thaichilddevelopment.org

Telephone +66 (0)6-172 1090

History and general information At the Thai Child Development Foundation there are many moments when we need to get to know new people or create a relaxed atmosphere. For example when a group of new students and volunteers are together for the first time, or when you teach a group of grown-ups who are a bit sleepy, or you want to energize the children in the class your teaching etc. etc.

To do so, you can use icebreakers: games and activities that don’t last too long, but they keep everybody up and running!

At our place we organized many activities, we did a lot of teaching and we are quit experienced in working with groups. And we learned a lot from each other how to get started and get going during sessions and meetings. This is the reason why we made this handbook. You can find icebreakers, games and all kind of information about the way you can activate and energize a group of people.

We hope you can use it in a creative way and hopefully it will inspire you to do great and fun things within your project or wherever you want to break the ice for!

If you have any ideas to improve or to add to this handbook, please let us know.

Ingrid van der StraatenEducation Program CoordinatorThai Child Development Foundation

ICEBREAKERS AND ENERGIZERS Page 2 of 17

Thai Child Development FoundationAddressPO Box 7 Phato Post OfficeAmphur PhatoChangwat Chumpon, 86180 Thailand 

Web site: www.thaichilddevelopment.orgE-mail: info@thaichilddevelopment.org

Telephone +66 (0)6-172 1090

IndexHistory and general information ....................................................................................................................... 2Index................................................................................................................................................................. 3The dolphin....................................................................................................................................................... 4The horse.......................................................................................................................................................... 41,2,3,4,5,6,7 north, south, east, west................................................................................................................5Get to know each other game........................................................................................................................... 5The mixer, the toaster, the palm tree, the tuk-tuk and the elephant…..............................................................6Halleluya!.......................................................................................................................................................... 6The rabbit, the old man, the baby and the monk...............................................................................................7Ping, pang, pong, variation 1............................................................................................................................ 7Ping, pang, pong, variation 2............................................................................................................................ 8Clap on THREE................................................................................................................................................ 8Heartbeat: reaction........................................................................................................................................... 8Mixed hands: clap on table............................................................................................................................... 9Special pictures................................................................................................................................................ 9Find the Person................................................................................................................................................ 9Candy Introduction.......................................................................................................................................... 10Card Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 10Introduce Your Partner.................................................................................................................................... 10Penguin game................................................................................................................................................. 11Wizards, dwarfs an elves................................................................................................................................ 11Blind maze...................................................................................................................................................... 11Human snap................................................................................................................................................... 12Penny in the slot............................................................................................................................................. 13Knee relay....................................................................................................................................................... 13Treasure?! Hunt.............................................................................................................................................. 13Direct hit.......................................................................................................................................................... 14Side slide........................................................................................................................................................ 14Alphabet people.............................................................................................................................................. 15Sinking balloon............................................................................................................................................... 15Team ski......................................................................................................................................................... 15What’s the time Mr. Wolf................................................................................................................................. 16Red Letter....................................................................................................................................................... 16Straw Towers.................................................................................................................................................. 17Egg and spoon................................................................................................................................................ 17Clap your hands (knees-hands-left-right)........................................................................................................17

ICEBREAKERS AND ENERGIZERS Page 3 of 17

The dolphin Type of game Group game, energizer

Description Get attention from the group, make a group silent/quitNecessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any age

First you tell a little story about a fish that lives in the sea.The story about the fish that lives in the sea:Once upon when I was walking on the beach I heard a sound. SPLASH! I looked around at the sea to see what it was. But I saw nothing! And then I heard it again: SPLASH SPLASH. I turned around and I saw a big tale coming out of the water. It was a fish, a big fish that lived in the sea. He liked swimming and playing in the water. You now what fish this is? It is a dolphin. The dolphin likes to swim (movement 1) and he likes to jump (movement 2 and action 1). If you look very careful maybe you see the fish.

Look: now he is swimming (movement) and up he jumps (movement 2 and action 1) and jumping again (movement 2 and action 1) and jumping (movement 2 and action 1).

Movement 1: SWIMMING: Put your both hands together and move you hand in front of you as if there is a big fish swimmingMovement 2: JUMPING; move your hand up in a bow and down again, as if a fish jumps from the waterAction 2: CLAPPING. Every time you make the JUMPING movement the students clap their hands.

Next time you do this energizer, you don’t have to tell the story, you only have to make the SWIMMING movement to get group quit and the JUMPING to get them clapping.

The horse Type of game Icebreaker, energizer

Description Activate and get attention of a groupNecessary StudentsNumber of people Up to 150Grade/age Grade 5/6 or youngerStand in a circle with the students. Ask the students: “Do you what a horse is?” Ask them: “Do you know what sound a horse makes?” (they probably would make a hihihhi sound) Ask them: “Do you know what sound a horse makes when he walks?” “No??? I will show you!”Action, step 1Stand in front of the group clap your hands 1x, slap your right upper leg once and then your left upper leg. Repeat this a few times, it will sound like a horse walking. Say to the group: “Do you know what sound a horse makes when he walks? Yes? Let’s do it!” Do the actionAction, step 2Now everybody knows how to make the sound, you have to move to. Ask the group: “Do you know how a horse moves?” “No? I can show you”. First, step from your left to your right foot, jumping a little bit, when slapping you upper legs Make the HIHHIHIH horse sound now and then, while throwing your head in the back of your neck Repeat this a few times Say to the group: “Do you know how a horse moves?” “Yes? Let’s do it” Do the action.Action, step 3Now everybody knows how to make the sound and how to move. It is time the horses run! Ask the group: “Do you know how a horses run?” “No? I can show you”. Start stepping forward, jumping and walking like a horse does and making the sound by clapping and

slapping your upper leg. Ask the group to follow you

Walk around in a circle. Then say; “Horses, run!!!” and you start moving real fast, jumping, slapping your upper leg, making the hihihihi sound and run.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7 north, south, east, west Type of game Group game, icebreaker, energizer

Description Activate a groupNecessary StudentsNumber of people As much as you want, we did it with 150 students!Grade/age Grade 5/6 or younger

You can use this when you want a big group to split up in smaller groups and you want them to go to different areas of your classroom or place. First make sure the groups are made.

Stand in a circle with the students.First tell them a little story about travelling around the world. Seeing places, meeting people from everywhere. People who come from the south, east, north and west. Ask the students: “Do you where the north is? And the south? And the east? And the west?” Start walking on the spot and count from one to seven, use your fingers: one, two, three, four, five, six,

seeeeeven! Jump to the front, say : NORTH Jump to the back, say: SOUTH Jump to the left, say: WEST Jump to the left, say: EAST Ask them: “Do you where the NORTH is?” Jump to the front Ask them: “Do you where the SOUTH is?” Jump to the back Ask them: “Do you where the WEST is?” Jump to the LEFT Ask them: “Do you where the EAST is?” Jump to the RIGHT Now start counting 1 to 7 and jumping north, south, east, west Ask them: ‘DO YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO? YES? LET’S GO!!!” Start walking in circles counting 1 to 7 and jumping forward, backwards, left and right. Do this for a few times If everybody knows the routine, let each group walk and jump to their own area using this way of moving

Get to know each other gameType of game Group game, icebreakerDescription Remembering names and pronounciationNecessary StudentsNumber of people As much as you want, but 15 people is the limit.Grade/age Grade 5/6With this game the first student says his/her name and add what he/she likes, the second student has to repeat the previous name and what the person’s likes and then add his/hers and so on and so on.To make it more fun - it can be done with absolute beginners as well - the students not only say their names but have to add a movement. For example: Student 1:My name is Tom and I like to read a book make movement as if he reads a bookStudent 2:His name is Tom and he likes to read a book (movement of reading).And my name is Joe and I like to play football (kicks his foot).Student 3:His name is Tom and he likes to read a book (movement of reading).His name is Joe and I like to play football (kicks his foot).and I'm Sue. I like to eat (pretend she is eating)etc. etc.

This is fun if the students movements are funny - you may even let them think of it before start the game. Finally the Teacher has to repeat all the names and movement preferably not in the seating order.

The mixer, the toaster, the palm tree, the tuk-tuk and the elephant….

Type of game Group game, icebreakerDescription Make a lot of fun, work together, get a nice interactionNecessary StudentsNumber of people As much as you want, minimum 5 people.Grade/age Any ageWith this game the students have to do an impression of a: Mixer Toaster Palm tree Tuk-tuk ElephantThey always have to do it with three students.Mixer The people on the outside take each other’s hand, forming a ‘bowl’. The person in the middle

turns around and around.Toaster The people on the outside take each other’s hand, forming a ‘bowl’. The person in the middle

jumps up and down.Palm tree. All three people put their arms in the air and move to left and the right, waving like palm trees

in the wind.Tuk-tuk The people on the outside take bent down a little bit and make a movement of WHEELS with

their hands. The person in the middle holds the ‘steering wheel’ with his/her hands.Elephant The people on the outside put their arms up and down their body, making the EARS of the elephant. The person in the middle makes an ELEPHANT TRUNK with his arms.HOW TO PLAY: Make a circle with the students One students stands in the middle of the circle and he/she points at one of the students saying (f.e.)

MIXER. The student has to make the ‘MIXER’ together with the two students on his left and right. When somebody makes a mistake he/she has to change place with the person in the middle, pointing

out people and giving assignments.

Halleluya! Type of game Group game, icebreaker

Description Make a lot of fun, work together, get a nice interactionNecessary StudentsNumber of people As much as you want, minimum 5 peopleGrade/age Any ageWith this game the students have to do an impression of a group of people, praising.They always have to do it with three students.The people on the outside (left and right side) bent down and make a praising movement. Hands high, raised and they bow down.The person in the middle raises his hands and moves them in praising in the air.HOW TO PLAY: Make a circle with the students One students stands in the middle of the circle and he/she points at one of the students “Halleluya” The student has to make the impression together with the two students on his left and right. When somebody makes a mistake he/she has to change place with the person in the middle, pointing

out people and giving assignments.

The rabbit, the old man, the baby and the monk Type of game Group game, icebreaker

Description Group-building, create a hilarious atmosphere, have funNecessary StudentsNumber of people Up to 20Grade/age Any ageWith this game the students have to do an impression and the sound of a:

Rabbit Old man Baby And a monk

Rabbit Put your two hands on top of your head, making rabbit ears. The sound is: SNUF SNUF.Old man Put your hand behind an ear, trying to listen very well. The sound is: HUH???Baby Put your arms in front of you, as if you hold a baby. The sound is: WEAH WEAH (crying

baby).Monk Put your two hands in front of you, make a circle with your arms. The sound is:

OOOOOOOOHMMMMMM.HOW TO PLAY: Make a circle with the students One students start, making the gesture and the sound to the person on his right. That person turns to his/her RIGHT neighbor and repeats that sound. The sound and gesture goes round the circle. Practice this a few times with all the ‘figures’. Then somebody makes another ‘figure’ while the first one is going around. The second figure has to

move in the other direction. To the left. The students can now expect a figure and a sound from the right AND from the left, and they have to be

sure to pass the sounds and gestures in the right direction. After a while, teacher can add as much figures and sounds, as he likes in the direction he likes.

Ping, pang, pong, variation 1 Type of game Energizer

Description Make a lot of fun, activate the group. Very nice if you play if as fast as possible.Necessary StudentsNumber of people As much as you want.Grade/age Any age

Make a circle with your students One person starts, saying PING and pointing at somebody else That person can:

Say PING and point at a new person, or Say PANG. The ‘ball’ bounces back to the first person who has to say:

PONG and point at somebody else. That person can:

Say PONG and point at a new person, or Say PANG. The ‘ball’ bounces back to the first person that has to say PING again.

Etc. etc.Try to play this game as fast as possible. After all: a game of Ping-Pong is very fast!After a while, when a person makes a mistake he/she has to leave the circle.

Ping, pang, pong, variation 2 Type of game Energizer

Description Concentration and energizing gameNecessary StudentsNumber of people As much as you want.Grade/age Any age1. Ping right arm across body, in front of face2. Pang left arm across body, in front of face3. Pong both arms against faceHow to play Make a circle with your students. Someone starts with ‘Ping: if the person on your right ‘pings” you must “ping” too (say Ping and do the

movement) and it continues around the circle the same way as the arm points (ping is to the right). Anyone can stop the flow if it is their turn by saying ‘Pong” and do the ‘Pong’-movement when it is their

turn. This reverses the direction of the game, so the person to the right of the ‘Pong” must say ‘Pang” and the

flow continues to the right with everyone saying ‘Pang”

This goes on until someone ‘Pong's’ again and a ‘ping’ flow starts.If played fast (and often when slow too) people make mistakes. They are then out of the game.

Clap on THREE Type of game Group game

Description Remembering, counting and action Necessary StudentsNumber of people As much as you want.Grade/age Any age Make a circle with your students One person starts, saying ONE The person next to him/her says: TWO The next person CLAPS HIS HANDS. The person next to him/her says FOUR The next person says FIVE The next person CLAPS HIS HANDS. Etc. etc.

The hand clapping is done when: The number can be divided by THREE, such as: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 etc. etc. The number has the digit THREE in it, such as: 3, 13, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,. 38, 39, 43, 53

etc

Try to play this game as fast as possible. After a while, when a person makes a mistake he/she has to leave the circle.

Heartbeat: reaction Type of game Group game, energizer

Description A team building activity which is very nice to do on the first or second day of class with a high school students (ESL and other classes alike)

Necessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any age

Form a circle, outside weather permitting, and hold hands. The object is to see how quickly they can "heart beat." They pass the beat by squeezing the hand to the left after they recieve it from the right. We try it again throughout the year and see if we get faster. It is a lot of fun and the kids are usually cheering when we break our previous record. Some are squeamish about holding hands but with prompting I usually get 100% participation.

Mixed hands: clap on table Type of game Group game, energizer

Description A team building activity which is very nice to do on the first or second day of class with a high school students

Necessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any age

Form a circle, sitting down around a big table.Students place their hands in front of them on the table and cross arms with their neighbors. Left hand under your neighbors arm, right hand over your neighbor’s arm. The object is to have the hands moving around, tapping the table as fast as possible. This might look

easy but it is quite confusing, because the hands in front of you are not yours, but your neighbors. One person starts by tapping the table once. The hand on his right taps the table and so on, the tapping

goes around. This continues until somebody decides to tap the table twice. The movement change in the opposite

direction. The movement goes to the left now. The tapping goes around.

When somebody taps the table three times, the movement continues to go in the same direction, but the hand next to the person tapping 3x can not tap the table. He skips.

Go ahead, try it! It is fun and quite difficult too! Try to do it as fast as possible!

Special pictures Type of game Group game, energizer

Description Get attention from the group, make a group silent/quitNecessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any age

Give each person a blank piece of paper, which is folded twice so there are four sections. Ask everyone to imagine that they have brought 4 of their favorite photos from homes, which represent

events, people or places that are important to them for whatever reason. They can write or draw this on the paper.

The other members of the group then have an opportunity to practice their questioning skills to find out more about the pictures, by asking questions about the pictures (which they can not see)

You'll find you learn a great deal about the other members and what is important to them in, in a very short time.

Find the Person Type of game Group game, energizer

Description Get attention from the group, make a group silent/quitNecessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any age Hand out three to five small pieces of paper to each student. Ask them to write something about themselves on each piece of paper (e.g. "I have a dog named 'Biffie'."

“I was born in 1974 in Germany.”). Encourage everyone to write something specific about him or herself. For example, they should not write, “I have three children”. They should write, “My three children’s

names are ~~~.” When they are all finished, they should fold their papers and put them into a hat. Then each volunteer draws the same number of papers as he or she put in, taking care not to draw their

own. Upon completion of the draw, each student is required to find the writer of the papers in their possession.

Candy Introduction Type of game Group game, energizer

Description Get attention from the group, make a group silent/quitNecessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any age Pass around a bowl of small candies such as M&M's and ask the students to take as many as they

would like, but not to eat them yet. Then ask each student to say something about themselves in English for every piece of candy that they

have taken.

Card Introduction Type of game Group game, energizer

Description Get attention from the group, make a group silent/quitNecessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any age Use a deck of cards for people to introduce themselves. On each person’s turn, he or she has to take a card from a deck of playing cards. Use the value of the card to determine how many things each person must say about him or herself.

If you pick the "ace," say one thing; two, say two things; a Jack is 11, Queen is 12, King is 13.

Variation Card introductionThe game is played in the same way, but you only use the cards from one (Ace) to 5. Everybody picks one card Use the value of the card to tell something about your habits (or things to do, or food, or drinks, or jobs in

the house anything …..) The difference is that the RED cards represent the BAD habits (or other subject) and the BLACK cards

represent your GOOD habits (or other subject). You will find, that most people will have no difficulty at all telling about their bad habits, but they will find it

difficult to tell good things about them selves (in general).

Introduce Your Partner Type of game Group game, energizer

Description Get attention from the group, make a group silent/quitNecessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any age

People write their name on a piece of paper. Then fold the papers and put them in a hat. Draw two names from the hat and pair people up until all the names have been drawn. The pairs should interview each other and find out three things about the other person. One by one, the students introduce three things about their partners to the group. They must also add an extra sentence that is a lie. The group should guess which sentence is a lie. It may be a good idea for the leader to go first to provide an example.

Penguin game Type of game Wake up/warm up

Description Get attention from the group, make a group silent/quitNecessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any age Everyone stands in a circle The leader asks: “Do you know how a penguin moves? No? I can show you!” He/she shows the actin of a penguin, which is achieved by slapping the thighs (upper leg) alternately

with the hands and waving the body to the right and the left. Everyone moves in a circle, waving his/her body and slapping his/her thighs. Walking like penguins. The leader or individuals cal out the various actions.

ACTIONS: LEFT/RIGHT SLALOM action of skiing to the left or right PASSING A ROUGH CROWD shake a fist in the air and roar PASSING A POSH CROWD hands in the air to the left side of the body and clap lightly POLAR BEAR hands in the air, jumping back as if scared JUMP jump as if on ski’s

Wizards, dwarfs an elves Type of game Energizer, teambuilding

Description A very hilarious game, teambuilding, communicationNecessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any age

This game is similar to the SCISSORS-PAPER-STONE game, except you use teams and your whole body.To be a wizardStand tall and wave a magic wand (imaginary of course!) across your body, while saying: ‘Tling tling’.To be a dwarfCrouch down, palms facing upwards and wriggle your fingers, while saying ‘Pidallah, pidallah’.

To be an elfJump from one leg to the other with bent knees, move your arms up and down in the air at the same time, while saying: ‘Huma, huma’.Yes it looks and it sounds funny, that’s the point, soooo….Form two teams. They should stand in two lines facing each other. A line is drawn where each team stands (or marked out with t-shirts/sticks) and another line one meter behind. Each team decides as a group which action to carry out: a wizard, a dwarf or an elf. Everyone counts 1, 2 and 3 and does the action WIZARDS beat ELFS, ELFS beat, DWARVES, DWARVES beat WIZARDSSo, if team 1 are ELVES and team 2 are DWARVES, the DWARVES start to run to the line behind them. The ELVES have to catch as many dwarves as they can before they cross the back line. The dwarves who got catched join the winning team.

Blind maze Type of game Communication

Description Teambuilding and communicationNecessary StudentsNumber of people Unlimited number, enough to form teams of four peopleGrade/age 15 years old and upThere are four people in each team and they can swap responsibilities, roles at certain points if appropriate.Team:1. Leader2. Blind blind folded3. Deaf pretends not to hear/ear plugs4. Dumb cannot speakThe mazeA maze is constructed with string around different objects (e.g. table, water tank, and trees) and activities are placed on the floorActivitiesA bat and ball: ball must be balanced on the bat for three metersStick, ball and obstacles: steers the ball around the obstacles using the stickHow to playThe leader must communicate the group through the maze leading around the maze and have them doing the obstacles.

VariationCan also be done in the dark so people can jump out and throw water on the teams or scare them.

Human snap Type of game Communication

DescriptionNecessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any ageAimThe aim of this game is to find the partner or partners belonging to your group.How to play Cards are made with pictures of something that makes a noise or can be acted out. E.g. in a group of 21, three cards each are made for; cat, dog, mouse, rabbit, horse, cow and pig. The cards (papers) are handed out to the group so that no one can see what the other has. Individuals

then act out the picture/word in order to find their partner. Team players may not communicate in words.VariationsGroups of objectRather then every one in a group being the same animal, groups can be made of objects.

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3Car Cat TreeBus Dog FlowerTrain Mouse Bush

Clearly variation in difficulty are possible. It is ease to be a cat, bet less so to be a bush!

Splitting groups into pair using oppositesWhere pairs are to be formed, opposites can be used.For example: up and down, cold and hot or identified pairs as cat and mouse fish and chips etc.Splitting groups into pair using famous couplesA more complex game uses famous couples, like Charles and Diana, Romeo and Juliet. Individuals have to think of a characteristic of the person to act it out. Here it is only fair to let people speak!

Penny in the slot Type of game Energizer/teambuilding

DescriptionNecessary Students, enough to form two teamsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any ageAimThe aim is to drop an object in a bucket or cup.How to play: Teams are formed and sit in rows, with a bucket/cup placed a few meters in front of them. Each team-leader (standing in front) is given a penny (a coin). They place the coin between their bum cheeks (Yes! You are reading this right: do this neatly please!)

and must try to run/walk with the coin there to the cup. To score a point they must release the coin so it lands in the cup. They then pick up the coin and give it to the next person in their team. If you drop the coin or miss the cup you simply pick it up and give it to the next person in line, but you

don’t score a point.. First team to get 5 points wins.

Knee relay Type of game Energizer/teambuilding

DescriptionNecessary Students, enough to form two teamsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any age

AimThe aim is to drop an object in a bucket or cup.

How to play: Teams are formed and sit in rows, with a bucket/cup placed a few meters in front of them. Each team-leader (standing in front) is given a ball. They place the ball between their knees and must try to run/walk with the ball there to the bucket. To score a point they must release the ball so it lands in the bucket. They then pick up the ball and give it to the next person in their team. If you drop the ball or miss the bucket you simply pick it up and give it to the next person in line, but you

don’t score a point.. First team to get 5 points wins.

Treasure?! Hunt Type of game Teambuilding/icebreaker

DescriptionNecessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any age

AimTo find all the items on the list.

How to playEach team is given a list of objects to find.They will either give each person an object to find or all look for everything and try to coordinate the activity.Do not guide them!VariationsThe game can be made shorter by have them looking for things near to them, for example:: Lighter Flower Old shoes Etc.Or the game can take half a day/full day if the teams are give a transport budget and have to find things from neighboring towns and villages.The game is made more interesting by including items such as: The shopkeepers first name An European business card The signature of a petrol pump attendant A dog paw print A pair of shoes from the beach A leaf that not green, brown or yellow (ingenious ideas are also welcome, they can paint a leaf blue for

instance). The hair of an old woman (grey) – maybe a little bit difficult in Thailand! Toe nail clippings Etc.

Direct hit Type of game Communication/learning direction

Description A game in which you learn to relay on your partner and that communication is essential

Necessary StudentsNumber of people About 20Grade/age From 15 years up

AimAim is that each pair must get from a starting point to the finish.

How to play Pairs are formed. One of the persons is blindfolded. The group should either be in a room, which they fill the edge (around the walls), or a square drawn on

the ground which they fill the edge. Aim is that each pair must get from a starting point to the finish. To do this the non-blindfolded person must direct the blindfolded person across the room without him/her

touching each other or anybody else.

Easy: they can use only the words left, right, forward, backward, or north/east/south/westHard: north/east/south/west can be replaced with other words. Make your own camp-language or do in

Thai. For example: north can be green, east can be purple, south can be yellow and west can be blue.

What seems obvious is to go directly to your destination. However this results in everyone piling into the middle: DIRECT HIT!

Side slide Type of game Energizer/icebreaker

Description Concentration and can be used practicing colors, fruit etc.Necessary StudentsNumber of people Maximum 20Grade/age 10 years and olderLike fruit salad except you are move one place to the right instead of finding a new chair.The group sits in a circle on chairs.They are given various names, like colors, fruit etc.They must be in an irregular distribution, so play Alphabet people to middle them up.

A caller calls out the names that have been chosen, for example: blue, green, yellow and red.When your color is called you move one place to the right. If someone is sitting there you sit on top of him or her.Only the person on top can move, so if a ‘red’ sits on a ‘blue’ that sits on a ‘red’ that is sitting on the chair only the top red can move.The first person to get back to his/her original chair wins, even if they are sitting on 10 people!

Alphabet people Type of game Icebreaker/middler

Description Get to know each other, practice the alphabet, communication gameNecessary StudentsNumber of people Up to 25 peopleGrade/age From 10 years up

Without leadership the group puts themselves in alphabetical order of their names, either in a circle or a line.

The game can be continued using: Place of birth Mother’s name Home town (if from different places) Street you live in Etc.

Sinking balloon Type of game Public speaking, decision making

Description Can be used for individuals to practice getting their point of view acrossNecessary StudentsNumber of people Up to 10 peopleGrade/age Any age

AimFor individuals to practice getting their point of view across

How to play A small group of people are told they are in a hot air balloon. It is sinking, so in order they don’t crash in

the sea one person must jump out. Each person is given a role to play.

For example: A politician A famous actress A doctor An engineer An athlete swimmer

Each person takes turns to explain why he or she should not be the one to jump out. The group then votes on whom has to go. You then tell the group they are still sinking and another person must jump out.

Team ski Type of game Teambuilding, communication

Description In this game teams learn to work together and to communicate.Necessary StudentsNumber of people Unlimited, but at least 2 teams of 3 peopleGrade/age 12 years and older

AimTo get an entire team around obstacles (slalom).

How to play ‘Flags’ obstacles (or rocks, wood, cones) are placed over a clearing wide apart but with a clear direction

how to get around them. The teams (3 persons) are given to large planks of wood (or bamboo) and three long pieces of rope. The teams fasten the planks under their feet (like ski’s) The must get around the obstacles without anyone’s feet touching the ground. To ski in the right direction and to turn on the right time, they have to shout directions to each other and

they have to step in time (one, two, step).

What’s the time Mr. Wolf Type of game Energizer

Description Students learn to focus and react, while listening to a foreign languageNecessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any age

AimTo get past the wolf to your home, without being caught..How to play You need one person to be the wolf, and the rest are sheep Draw a line, behind the line is the save area HOME Draw another line, about 10 meters from the first line, this is the place where the sheep are The wolf stands in between the lines, with his back to the sheep, facing the HOME line The sheep call: ‘What is the time Mr. Wolf?” The wolf replies with a time between 1 and 12 o’clock. Any time between 1 and 11 means the ‘sheep’ can move forward to try to get home without the wolf

catching them. They can only step forward as many steps as the time called

For example: 2 o’clock = 2 steps 11 o’clock = 11 steps

When the wolf cries: 12 o’clock: it’s lunchtime the wolf is now free to move and try to catch the sheep who are not in the home yet.

You are out of the game when caught.

Red Letter Type of game Energizer

DescriptionNecessary StudentsNumber of people UnlimitedGrade/age Any ageA similar game to ‘What’s the time Mr. Wolf’ is the Red Letter. The leader stands where the wolf stands, calling out letters of the alphabet.

AimTo reach the others side, get home. Easily played across an unused track or road, either side of the road is home. The leader chooses three letters, which are to be the RED LETTERS. The leader calls out letters (from A to Z) in order to cross to the other side the players must shout a word

beginning with that letter. The leader tries to catch them as they cross. If you are caught you join the leader in trying to catch people, becoming a catcher. If a RED LETTER is chosen and you move or call out a word you also must join the catchers.

For example: Red letters: G, O, and A. If you call out or move on Grass you become a catcher.

Last person caught wins.

Variation You can just use words from a subject. Therefore call the relevant letters.

Straw Towers Type of game Teambuilding, communication

Description Can be used on environmental project (used straws)Necessary StudentsNumber of people Enough to make teams (about 6 people a team), number of teams unlimited.Grade/age 12 years and up

AimBuild a tower, the tallest!, and use up all the plastic straws from the refuse!

How to play.Teams are made of equal numbers and given an equal number of straws.The team is given 3 minutes to make the tallest tower they can build.No glue or sello-tape or strings or anything other than straws may be used.Don’t tell them this but they can tie the straws and/or put straws inside other strawsThe winner is the team with the tallest tower – obviously!

Egg and spoon Type of game Group game

Description Energizer, teambuilding gameNecessary 2 spoons, 2 eggs (or ping-pong-balls)Number of people 2 teams of 5/6 peopleGrade/age Any ageAimPass the egg as fast as possible, using only the spoon in your mouth.How to play You need 2 spoons and 2 eggs (or ping-pong balls) Form two teams (5 to 6 people) Make a start and a finish, set a route. Students take spoon in mouth with the ping-pong-ball. They can not touch the ball or spoon with their

hands! Students walk as fast as they can from start to finish, following the route If the ball drops they have to start all over again If student 1 of a team is finished, student 2 takes over the ball and spoon, and walks the route etc. etc. The team who finishes first, wins.

Clap your hands (knees-hands-left-right)Type of game Get to know each other game.Description Game you can use to practice the names of the participants of your class,

workcamp or seminarNecessary A number of people who do not know each other to well.Number of people Up to 20Grade/age 10 and up.

Aim:Get to know each other and remember all the names of the persons in your group.How to play: Make a circle of persons, facing each other. Each student tells his name one time, loud and clear. Then practice with everybody the routine of clapping: Clap your hands one time. Put the thumb of your right hand over your shoulder (as if you are hitch hiking). Then put the thumb of your left hand over your left shoulder. Repeat this several times. Clap, right, left, clap, and right, left. One student begins, everybody claps his hands, thumbs right: the students say HIS OWN NAME and

then, thumbs left THE NAME OF ANOTHER PERSON.

For example: when the first person name is PETE, the routine will be: clap, PETE, JANE…….. then JANE calls her name (JANE) and the name of the next person. And so on, and so on.

In the mean time the hand clapping goes onVariation: Instead of names, you can also use: Thai numbers (for an English speaking group) The countries of the participants (if from different countries) And so on…….